How to See the Highlights of London in a Day

I often receive messages from friends or friends-of-friends asking for advice with planning their upcoming holidays to London. I decided to write this blog and share my hints on how to experience the best of London (and outside) while maximizing your time and not breaking the bank. You could easily spend years in London and still feel like you've only cracked the surface of what this amazing city has to offer. However, if you only have a limited period of time then you better make the most of it.

Here's a guide to seeing all of London in a day.

9 AM : Breakfast at Borough Market (Closest tube : London Bridge)

This food market has much to offer in the way of tasty eats. Nestled under the train bridges and sitting slightly back from the river Thames you might never even realise it's there. The options for cuisine are endless and my tastebuds have never met a meal I didn't love. So, head on over early to beat the crowds and enjoy a fabulous breakfast and cup of coffee to start off the day.

Wanting a break from the Full English Breakfast, but still want something local? Try a Bacon, Cheese and Bubble Bap! (Translation : Bubble = potato hash and bap = bread bun. Basically, you're ordering a breakfast sandwich with potato hash)

10:30 AM : Sandemann's Free Walking Tour (Closest Tube : Covent Garden)

I love the free Sandemann's tours in every city I've visited and have participated in the London tour at least four times. I've never been disappointed. This walk runs twice a day but I prefer the morning option because the guide will take you by the changing of the guard. During the summer the guard changing ceremony happens every day. In the winter it happens every other day; so make sure you check the schedule. The tour takes about three hours and goes by most of the major sites. The guides are working for tips and bring a lot of passion to the stories they tell, making each tour unique. I usually give between £5-10 per person as a tip but it is up to you to determine what you think it's worth.

Don't miss taking a picture with the best phone booth in London which features you, a red phone booth and Big Ben.

1:30 PM : Camden Town Market (Closest Tube : Camden Town)

Once you finish the tour at Parliament, find your way to the Thames and walk along the river enjoying the view of the London Eye and the river on the way to Embankment Tube stop. You're probably pretty hungry by now, so jump on the Northern line and make your way North to Camden Town. Camden Town is an experience in its own, offering hours of market shopping opportunities and rows and rows of food markets with food options ranging from all over the world. If you're into Gothic, rave or non traditional attire then there are plenty of options for you as well.

When it's time to leave you might find that the tube you came in won't take you back, so ask a tube attendant to point you in the direction of Kentish Town or Euston and see a little bit more of the area on the walk.

5:00 PM : Sky Garden at the Walkie Talkie (Closet Tube : Monument)

To wrap up your day, make your way back into Central for your final stops. Hop off at St Paul's Cathedral (closet tube : Blackfairs or Mansion House) for a picture before walking the rest of the way to the Walkie Talkie. The Sky Garden is located on top of the Walkie Talkie building and offers the best view of the city. And just to make it even better, it's free to go up! Booking is only required if you want to book a table for a drink and possibly during really busy times. However, I've never had a problem just walking right in. While I love to look at the London Eye, Gherkin and The Shard, I believe paying £30 a pop for entry just isn't worth it when you can get them all in one picture from the Sky Garden.

Have more than a day in London? Lucky you! Here's some more information, including trips out of the city, to help you plan your trip.

You can always spend your time ticking off all the big attractions like Buckingham Palace, Parliament, the London Eye, The Tower of London, etc. However, if you want to get a little bit off the beaten path check out a few of these spots below.

Greenwich

This borough, sitting on the outskirts of Central, feels more like a suburb than a key part of the hustling city. The area offers lots of little markets, a museum, the planetarium observatory and great views of Canary Wharf and the city.

The O2 is located immediately outside of the tube and not only brings some of the best shows and talent, but also offers the opportunity to climb over the enormous dome. Make sure you book in advance, because slots fill up fast.

You can also take a gondola across the river and explore the bars and stops along the river.

Portobello Market

This is one of my favourite markets in London and will provide a day's worth of wandering and exploring. You can shop antiques, new designers, arts and crafts, explore new artists, old artists and so much more.

Travel the city by water

There are two options for travelling the city by water. First, an organised water cruise tours. You can usually get deals for these and I, personally, don't think paying full price is worth it. I wouldn't spend more than £10 a person and that's being generous.

The other option is to get the Thames Clipper. It's public transport but it will take you from Waterloo, London Bridge and a couple of other stops to Greenwich. You might need to book a spot in advance but you can use your Oyster card (seeing Housekeeping section below) to pay for the journey

London can get pretty busy, especially during the summer. If you find yourself looking for something a little less metropolitan, there are a number of ways you can explore outside of the city as well.

Day Trips

Coach Tours

There are a number of companies which offer coach tours out of the city. The itineraries offer a combo of destinations including Stonehenge, the Cotswolds, Windsor castle, Leeds Castle, Shakespeare's home and more. I would recommend any of the above destinations. These tours can be pricey, but often you can find deals on Groupon UK or Wowcher.com. If you're planning your trip I would suggest signing up for the emails before you leave home and keep an eye out for the dates you're visiting.

Explore on your own

If you like to walk/hike, the Seven sisters walk from Seaford to Eastbourne is lovely! The entire trip from train station to train station is about 18 miles, so make sure you have the gear. It will take you all day but you get to see beautiful white cliffs, beach and more. The route offers you two pub options at either end to give your feet a break and allow you to wet your whistle.

Cambridge and Oxford

Both of these cities are beautiful and worth a visit in their own ways. They can be easily reached from either King's Cross or London Bridge and are a great way to see how the brightest minds of the country live and study.

Housekeeping Tips

Last but certainly not least here are a few tips for making your time count.

Places to stay

I always suggest looking into Airbnb. There are a number of nice apartments scattered throughout the city that are more affordable than hotels and can make your stay feel more like home. In most cases, you'll also have access to a kitchen which can shave off a few pounds along the way. I'd suggest staying in Zone 1 (or just inside the Zone 2 boundary) when picking a place.

Traveling solo? Hostels are a great place to meet new people and see the city. Hostelworld.com and Hostelbookers.com the the leading hostel booking sites. They offer reviews and descriptions on a hostel that help to ensure you stay at a place that fits your style of travel perfectly.

Getting Around

As for getting around the city, you'll want to get what is called an Oyster card pretty much right away. The card is a 5 deposit which is refundable with the receipt at the end of your trip. You can either load the card with money and use the pay as you go option or purchase a week or monthly unlimited pass. The card will save you 1/3 on travel and a bunch of hassle.

CityMapper is a fabulous app for finding your way around the city. It makes determining the best routes easy and provides a plan to get you exactly where you need to be. Download it before your trip!

Uber can also be a wallet saver. Black cabs are very expensive, while Uber is a faction of the price. If you don't have the app already, download it before you find yourself strained and lost in an unknown part of London!

"Gosh, this is a lot" you might be saying, but this is only scratching the surface. If you have more questions about planning your trip please don't hesitate to drop me a line! And stay tuned, next week I'll be sharing about how to find a deal in London!